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The Crystal Rule	By : QueenDraggyofSwords Category: Final Fantasy Games > Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Views: 956 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy: chrystal Chronicles, any of its characters nor am I making any profit off of them.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
Chapter Twenty Two

The walk to town was long. And it was made even longer by the fact that Constance kept chatting away to Keiss. It wasn't that he minded the chatter. It's just that the chatter wasn't anything useful to him. The girl went on about the town, the shop she ran with her father, James, asked questions about Alfitaria, and so on and so forth. By the time they were down the hill and heading back down the main road, he decided he would take over the situation.
"So, Stance- what's the deal with you and Layle?"
"Huh?" The girl looked confused as she kicked up a little rock form the road. "What do you mean?"
"There's a bunch of pictures around Lyra's house of you and Layle," The Selkie put his hands on top of his head, "So, what's the connection? You guys best friends? You his stalker? …Childhood sweetheart?" He had to choke out that last one, but it was worth it to see the shop girl burst into a fit of laughter.
"No-no-no!" She shook her head, "We're cousins! Er- nothing like what people joke about in the big city. I promise!" Constance pointed up the road, "My dad is Lyra's big brother. That makes Layle my cousin. And he's only a few years older than me...Plus he's got powers! So, I guess, yeah I am the tag along to all of his exploits about town."
"Cousins, huh?" Keiss mulled that over in his head. James had short dark brown hair, dark brown eyes. Constance had dark brown hair, green eyes. Lyra had short light brown hair, green eyes…Layle has blond hair, blue eyes… "…Why doesn't he look like any of them?"
"Did you ask something, Keiss?"
"Huh! Oh, yeah. Where's the meeting at?" Constance ushered for the Selkie to follow as he cursed picking up Layle's bad habit of thinking out loud. He followed the shop girl off the main road and up to a large barn. Of course it would be in a barn. Out front plenty of people had already gathered and where heading inside. Keiss could see the Crystal Bikes were also parked out by the sides of the building. "Looks like it will be an interesting meeting." Keiss and Constance entered the barn and stayed towards the back.
As the last of the towns people filtered in a few of the men stood up front. On one side were the mercenaries, the other a few Clavats, plus James. One of the farmers called the meeting to order and began his speech over the concerns of the village regarding the monsters and the ranch up on the hill.
"James!" The man turned to the muscular Clavat, "Your sister's actions simply cannot continue. Either she must pay with the village or we will all suffer."
The crowd erupted into support of calls, "That's right! We want to hold the festival, James! Someone's got'ta protect the town!"
Lyra's brother shook his head, "There is no guarantee that even if she pays, and we collectively pay more, that the town will be safe."
"There's only four days till the festival, James! At least have her do something about that rouge kid o' hers! Yeah! Where's my money for my window! She owes the town that much!"
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please," The head of the Mercenaries spoke up, Keiss was a bit disappointed to see he didn't have any busted bones. "Even if the woman on the hill does not pay, we can and will still continue to protect your village. For an increased rate of ten thousand gil per home, per week." There was a loud groan and some mutters from the crowd. "Or, we can keep it at the same rate if the Selkie and the Crystal Bearer leave, peacefully." The crowd started calling to James ordering and begging him to reason with Lyra.
"This doesn't look good for you all…" Constance bit her lip and looked at Keiss.
The Selkie smiled at her, "Are you kidding. This is perfect." He pat her on the shoulder and started to walk up front. As he made his way through the crowd, the people would turn their heads to look at him. Keiss came to a stop in the front of the room and the towns people looked on angrily. James approached him and told him to head back to Lyra's but Keiss shrugged him off. "Ladies and Gentle-Clavats, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Keiss, a mercenary, much like your friends up here." He motioned to the angry Lilty across from him. "However, unlike your friends here, I am a professional."
"Professional!" The mercenaries laughed. "What makes you better than us? And what's that got to do with you leaving!"
Keiss smirked at him and pulled a contract out of his pocket, "Allow me to explain. I work for Lieutenant Spinosa, of the Lilty Royal Army. And Dr. Hyacinth Oides and Professor Piper of Crystal Research and Development. And one of my many, many illustrious duties that I, and my partner Layle, perform for these gentlemen is the simple task of Monster eradication." The Clavats in the room whispered to each other while Keiss paused. After giving them a moment to let that soak in he started talking again, "In our tasks we have exterminated and retrieve Tonberries from Mushroom Forest, Sahagins from the pits of Prison Sands…And Most recently, felled an Antlion and retrieved its jaw for research." This time the muttering was a bit louder and Keiss smiled.
"What I propose to you, Clavats of Denthe, is not that my partner and I leave you in the hands of these capable but clearly struggling men. But that instead you turn your monster woes over to us. And I guarantee to you, you can hold your festival: Monster Free. All for the low, low, low price, of ab-so-lute-ly free."

Constance was bouncing on her heels and clapping for Keiss outside the barn. About fifteen minutes after his speech, the town had disbanded under the agreement that they would let Keiss and Layle handle the monsters. Some agreed as they felt it was the least Lyra and Layle could do for the town. Others felt the idea of getting protection for free was too good to pass up, and as James had pointed out, they had nothing to lose either way. Either pay and have no festival or don't pay and have no festival. In fact, the only people angry about the event were the Mercenaries, who heckled Keiss on their way out. Daring him to try and stop the monsters.
"That was so amazing! I've never seen anyone win the town over like that! Well, Except for Lyra! But that usually involves yelling and waving her sword about!"
Keiss snapped his fingers, "What's the deal with her anyway? Has she always been that way?"
"Lyra? Oh yes, for as long as I can remember, no one messes with her. Her word is the end all of everything. Even with my dad."
"And…since her husband died, has she always been alone?"
"No."
"Oh! So she's got another man?" Keiss smiled and thought to himself, 'Maybe blond haired or blue eyed?'
"That's right. She's got Layle. And now I go see her every day!" The Selkie hung his head. That was not quite what he was hoping for.
James was one of the last few to leave the barn. He stopped and eyed his bouncing daughter and the disheartened Keiss, "In over your head, Selkie?"
The red head lifted his head and smiled. "I'm never in over my head."
"I see…Stance says you need a wagon to get your airship?" Keiss nodded, surprised that came up. "Then come on. We'll go get it. Stance go tell Lyra what the meetings results were." The energetic shop girl nodded to her father and took off for Lyra's. Keiss watched her go as James beckoned for him to follow. Now he was to be alone with Lyra's brother. It was time to start round two of questioning.

It didn't take Keiss long to figure out where Layle got his lack of desire to talk from. It was harder to get information out of James than it was a statue. The Clavat at best would answer 'yes' or 'no' and anything else was always, "Check with my sister. If she'll tell ya', I'll tell ya'."
"Oh man, what a family…" He leaned over the sides of his seat in the wagon sighing a bit aggravated. It had taken him, James, and yards and yards of rope a good two hours to hoist the Acote up and get her onto the back of the wagon. After Keiss had checked to see if anything in her still worked, they had set out back for town. "Well what about Layle?" he refused to get out of this trip without learning something. "Can you at least tell me why he left home?"
"Layle?" James rubbed his chin as he watched the Paopamouse pull the wagon along. "He never had it in him to stay put. Lyra never helped. Telling him all those wild stories about monsters and how to handle them and seeing far off places. She made herself a monster in that kid."
"Hey, I kind of like that adventurous spirit in Layle." Keiss crossed his arms and James laughed.
"I don't mean he's a monster in a bad way. Just mean she worries herself sick over him, but he is the way he is because of her."
Keiss tilted his head back, "…I think Lyra should meet my old man, sounds like they'd get along famously." As he looked up he saw the edges of the sky in his vision were turning purple. The Selkie sat up and turned around frowning. "Hey, James! Can you make those creatures move any faster! There's a storm coming in!"
The Clavat looked over his shoulder and frowned. He whipped up the two Paopamouse pulling the wagon and they started to run a bit faster. However Keiss could already tell that wasn't going to cut it. He stood up on his seat and told James to just keep the wagon going steady. Slowly Keiss climbed into the back of the wagon where is airship lay broken and battered. He had to be careful not to cut himself on any of the broken glass or twisted metal. He reached into the cockpit and flipped a few switches turning on the machines system.
"What are you doing back there!"
"Getting ready!" Keiss put his hands on the ship and started to inch his way around to the crow's nest. Just down the road he heard a loud roar. As he could expect a group of Behemoths was charging down the path, right for the wagon. Unfortunately the Acote weighed down the wagon too much for it to pick up speed. Fortunately, of the few things that survived the crash, the turret in the crow's nest was still working. Keiss climbed into Layle's seat and grinned. "Okay! Let's go!"
He pulled the trigger and blasted away the first angry monster charging for the wagon. He could hear James let out some sort of shout, probably over the loud noise from the gun. The Selkie turned the turret and fired again at the next closet enemy. The Behemoths were no match for the Acote's fire power. He couldn't help but laugh as he took out the third one. However, the remaining three ran off the road, now a bit leery of the wagon they were chasing down.
"Damn, monsters…You're not supposed to think…" Keiss looked around to the sides of the road rushing by. He could see a Behemoth every now and again, but she he fired, the trees just got in the way. "James!" Keiss looked over his shoulder, "Look out! They're, in the trees!"
The Clavat could barely hear him over the sound of one of said trees breaking in two as a monster jumped out from the forest and tried to land on the wagon. James jerked the reigns and the Paopamouse turned sharply. Keiss spun the turret around with his hand on the trigger shooting up the country side and the monster. As the wagon came back into the center of the road the Selkie could hear the other Behemoth to his left. Keiss turned the turret to face the forest on that side, and just as he was lining up the shot the monster burst out from the trees. Again Keiss fired into the monsters chest as it attempted to crash down onto the wagon. It fell just behind them and its body broke apart.
"The village is up ahead!" James called over his shoulder to the Selkie. Keiss turned around in his seat smiling. But he was sure there was another monster, wasn't there? As he leaned back in his seat Keiss did in fact hear another monster. Just out the corner of his eye he saw a flash of purple moving ahead of them in the forest.
"James! Stop the wagon!"
"What!" The Clavat looked over his shoulder at him, he didn't see the large purple monster jump out in front of the wagon and charge it from the front. The Clavat turned shouting, trying to bring the Paopamouse to a halt. Just as the Behemoth's claws were going to come down on him, James could hear the sounds of gun fire and the beast burst into mist that wrapped around the wagon and fell to the ground.
The ride came to an end just on the edge of town. James had his hand over his heart and was gasping for air. Keiss leaned over the edge of the crow's nest and smiled. "I would say I can handle this town protecting thing, pretty well. Wouldn't you?"

By the time James and Keiss got the Acote up to Lyra's ranch the woman was standing out front to show them where the machine could be stored. However she did not look too happy. After putting the Acote out behind the woman's old barn Keiss received and earful about volunteering himself and Layle to deal with the monster problem.
"Lyra," James spoke up for him, "Let the boys handle it. I believe they can do it. And if you don't believe in them, the rest of the town sure as hell won't."
The woman crossed her arms and huffed, "Fine. But you had better be careful!"
"I promise you, Lyra, we are always careful," Keiss lied. But he smiled at Lyra and left to find Layle.
He found the Crystal Bearer on the couch, finally allowed to sleep his partner was thoroughly knocked out. He leaned over him and shook Layle's shoulders. "Layle…Hey Layle."
The Crystal Bearer twitched in his sleep, and to his surprise Keiss found himself floating. "What th—LAYLE! WAKE UP!"
"Huh!" The Clavat opened his eyes and Keiss dropped to the ground. The Crystal Bearer sat up and looked down at his partner. "Keiss…What are you doing down there?"
The Selkie sat up on his knees and glared, "That's the second time in twelve hours you've tossed me."
Layle rubbed the side of his head, "I have no clue what you're talking about. Ah, geeze, this stupid wound feels like it's got a knife in it."
Keiss stood up and leaned over Layle's head, "You're not bleeding again. Maybe you poked it in your sleep?"
"Maybe…" Layle stood up, "So…I heard were fighting monsters…"
"Fighting and fixing. I figured you wouldn't mind."
"I'm surprised you're doing it for free."
"Like I would charge your mother for helping her." Keiss shook his head.
"She wouldn't pay you anyway." Keiss rolled his eyes and motioned for Layle to follow him out to Acote. Upon seeing the ship again the Clavat shook his head. "Keiss…This thing is totaled."
"It's in perfect working condition!"
"Keiss…We need a new one. No one is going to fix this, not unless they get paid a ton of gil."
"Shows what you know, I've got connections." Keiss leaned up against his broken down airship. "We solve the town's problem. Take the Acote to Red Leaf. Hitch the train to Bridge Town, and get this thing in working order and we will be back in business before you know it."
Layle looked the ship over, "If you say so," He stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned back to look the ship over some more,"So how long do we have to fix the town?"
"Four days."
"Hmn...Sounds like a tight fit. Sure you can handle it?"
Keiss reached forward and grabbed Layle's shirt pulling him forward. He stopped the Crystal Bearer just a few inches form his face and smiled, "I already know one tight fit I can handle from this town just fine."
Layle smirked, "That was terrible, and you should feel bad for saying it." Keiss offered no apologizes. He drew his partner into hot and heavy kiss. He had been half joking last night about feeling pent up, but it really was starting to wear on him. Wrecked ship, hurt partner, halfassed mission. He needed Layle, but knew the Crystal Bearer was not up for it with that wound. Not that there was any place safe to sleep together anyway. Not with the way Lyra seemed to possess the ability to become a ghost whenever she felt like it. Or maybe the stress was just messing with his senses. Yesterday while Layle was bleeding to death he certainly unaware of anything other than the Clavat's paling face.
But he couldn't be too far off his game, as he heard someone coming now. Keiss let go of Layle and the Clavat took a step back. Or did he stumble? Keiss couldn't help it if sometimes he stroked his own ego- but it probably was just due to being tired that the Crystal Bearer seemed out of balance.
"Layle? Layle!" Constance came around the corner and smiled. "There you are. Your Mom says you should be asleep."
Layle rolled his eyes, "Stance, tell Lyra I'm helping Keiss figure out how we're going to protect the town."
"Ah, it's alright, Layle." Keiss shrugged his shoulders, "I can just use one of those Crystal Bikes we took to fight the monsters while you rest."
"Is that going to be enough?"
"With a bit of fine tuning, I can have it running better than ever. You don't have to worry about me, Layle. I'm a Selkie. I can handle it solo."
The Clavat sighed but nodded. "Fine, just…Be careful."
"This coming from the guy who fought a monster until it dropped a building on him." Keiss chuckled and Constance joined in. Layle however did not laugh. He let out an annoyed snort in Keiss' direction and again the Selkie found himself tossed from his feet. Not hard but enough to make him land on his ass. "Hey!"
"Layle," Stance covered he mouth, "Why did you do that?"
The Crystal Bearer rubbed his head just over his stitching. "Sorry, it wasn't intentional."
"Not intentional…that's like three times you've 'not intentional'-ly tossed me. Are you okay?"
"I- I think so…My head just hurt for a second." Layle put his hand down, but Keiss wasn't buying it.
The Selkie dug into his pocket and pulled out their old contract. He wadded it up into a ball and tossed it at Layle. "Catch!"
The Clavat held his hand out and caught the ball in midair. It stayed floating for a second before it started to shake. With his other hand Layle put palm over the left side of his head and winced. The wadded up piece of paper shot up and out of sight. Constance and Keiss looked up and the Selkie frowned. Layle looked up keeping his left eye shut and Keiss looked around the ground.
"There, lift that rock! Bring it over here."
Layle looked at him questioningly, but did it anyway. He extended his arm to a rock not ten feet away and lifted it. The rock rolled, trembling in the gravity field and Layle let out a sound of pain. The rock shook again and came rushing forward. Keiss ducked down at the rock crashed into the Acote and wedged itself in there. The three of them looked at it and Keiss shook his head.
He turned to his partner, "Please, please tell me you are fucking with me…And you did not lose control of your powers."
"Uh," Layle rubbed his head, the left side felt like nothing but piercing pain, "I can tell you that, but that won't make it true…"
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The Crystal Rule